Ben Schmitt & His 1979 Yamaha SR500

Our May 2016 cover bike is owned by Ben Schmitt, and we enjoyed shooting his 1979 Yamaha SR500 for this month’s cover. Ben is from Kearney, Missouri, and we had the opportunity to gather additional information about him and his bike. We also had fun shooting cover model Kathleen on Ben’s bike for this month’s cover. I’m sure you’ll also enjoy this month’s behind the scenes photos and video!

CC: What do you like most about your Yamaha SR 500 cover bike? Ben: The bike works very well as a road racer. A single cylinder 4-stroke bike is really fun to ride flat-out.

CC: What is your dream bike? Ben: A Harley-Davidson XR750. I love the racing Heritage.

CC: What is your most memorable riding experience? Ben: Riding a friend’s Sportster when I was 16-years-old. No turning back after that!

CC: What is your least memorable riding experience? Ben: My least favorite is a crash in turn 13 at Road America. It hurt and left a mark!

CC: To what clubs or organizations do you belong? Ben: AHRMA. I also sponsor the Missouri Vintage Motocross Series.

CC: Which motorcycle rallies & events have you attended? Ben: I’ve been to many racing events and the National Biker Roundup. I always look forward to the October Vintage Race at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.

CC: Do you prefer riding in a group or by yourself? Ben: No preference, but I don’t like riding with a slow-paced group.